This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Police name suspect in deadly shooting outside Toronto nightclub

Toronto police have identified a suspect in the shooting death of one man and the wounding of another outside a King St. nightclub last week, and are asking him to turn himself in.

Nisar Hashimi, 23, is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Anthony Smith and the attempted murder of a second man, Det. Joyce Schertzer told a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Hashimi had made arrangements through his lawyer to surrender to police on Wednesday morning, Schertzer said, but he did not show up.

Police are now publicly calling for Hashimi to surrender today.

“You will be apprehended,” Schertzer said in comments directed to Hashimi. “Turn yourself in to police immediately.”

Article Continued Below

She added that “those who harbour him will be prosecuted accordingly.”

Just after 2:30 a.m. on March 28, police found two men suffering gunshot wounds when they responded to a report of shots fired near the Loki Lounge nightclub on King St. W. near Portland St.

One of the victims had been shot in the head, the other in the back.

Schertzer said Smith was the intended target of the “very bold” shooting.

Both men were taken to hospital, where Smith died. Schertzer said she could not elaborate on the condition of the second victim, who has not been identified.

Schertzer said both men had earlier been in the Loki Lounge nightclub with friends and had crossed King St. to the north side when the shooting occurred.

The detective said the club has been very cooperative with police.

Article Continued Below

A post on Loki Lounge’s Facebook page on March 29 from “Loki Management” said “contrary to media reports” there were “no altercations or incidents inside Loki prior to the shooting” and the bar was closed to patrons at the time of the shooting.

“Loki security staff heard shots fired across the road, in front of the LeeValley hardware store. At considerable personal risk, security staff left the bar, attended to the victims, made a 911 call and stayed on scene to flag down police cruisers,” the statement said.

The post also said staff had given statements to police in the wake of the shooting.

A poster for a regular event planned for tonight at the club said proceeds would go towards “ongoing efforts to stop gun violence in Toronto.”

Schertzer said police have reviewed video surveillance from local business in the area and believe dozens of witnesses have yet to come forward.

More from The Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com